September 7, 2026 | 06:36 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia's Immigration Directorate General has granted temporary emergency stay permits to foreign nationals affected by flight cancellations and diversions following the eruption of Anak Krakatau volcano on Sunday, September 6.
The Emergency Stay Permit (ITKT) allows affected foreign travelers to remain legally in Indonesia while waiting for their flights to resume. Immigration authorities are also waiving overstay fees for foreigners whose stays are extended because of the flight disruptions.
Director General of Immigration Hendarsam Marantoko said the policy was introduced to assist passengers affected by the natural disaster and ensure they have legal certainty while stranded in Indonesia.
“We understand the difficult situation and inconvenience experienced by passengers due to the flight disruptions. Therefore, the state is here to provide legal certainty,” Hendarsam said in a written statement received in Tangerang on Monday, September 7.
He said immigration officers would continue to monitor the legal status of foreign nationals in Indonesia while taking a humanitarian approach during the emergency.
The application process for the emergency stay permit will be handled quickly and efficiently, with no overstay fees charged to affected foreigners. The permit will allow them to remain in Indonesia until their flights return to normal.
Hendarsam said the policy was not limited to the Anak Krakatau eruption and could also be applied in other force majeure situations that disrupt international travelers.
More Than 500 Flights Affected
Between September 5 and 7, a total of 528 flights were affected by the disruptions, according to Hendarsam. The figure included 254 canceled arrival flights and 266 canceled departure flights, affecting 86,760 passengers.
As of September 7, the Soekarno-Hatta Immigration Office had processed 26 applications for Emergency Stay Permits from affected foreign nationals.
To speed up services, the office has added an additional immigration counter, bringing the total number of counters handling ITKT applications to two.
Other immigration offices have also processed applications. The Central Jakarta Immigration Office handled five applications, while the North Jakarta office handled four.
The Depok and South Jakarta offices each processed two applications. One application each was handled by the Ngurah Rai, Juanda, Bekasi and Tangerang immigration offices.
Who Can Apply for the Emergency Permit?
Under the temporary immigration arrangements, the immigration office overseeing the airport immigration checkpoint at the foreigner's intended departure airport can issue an Emergency Stay Permit for up to 30 days. The permit can be extended in accordance with applicable regulations.
Foreign nationals or airline representatives only need to submit an official letter or declaration from the civil aviation authority, airline or airport authority, along with the travel document and relevant visa or residence permit.
Immigration authorities said the process would continue to follow established standard operating procedures and immigration safeguards to maintain security and order.
Hendarsam said immigration authorities would also maintain a balance between their enforcement and supervisory responsibilities and their obligation to provide services to the public and foreign nationals.
“In an emergency like this, service is the priority, particularly in helping foreign nationals facing travel disruptions so they can continue to receive certainty and access to immigration services in accordance with applicable regulations,” he said.
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